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Lyrics: The definitive collection of the Roxy Music frontman’s iconic lyrics

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To understand the meaning of the song, one should first determine the meaning of the allusions within the lyrics. Avalon is known to most as the mythical kingdom of King Arthur, but it has also had other meanings throughout history, as a mythical island paradise located in, variously: Old England, Italy, Sicily, Atlantis, etc. It has been described by several traditions as a place where apples grow, and where everything grows abundantly without effort, without the need for ploughing, planting, or weeding. It is, therefore, a kind of Garden of Eden or paradise on earth. Bossa Nova refers to a genre of Brazilian jazz music (with various other influences). The Bossa Nova took its name from the term "bossa" which refers to something artistically new, which flows from a talented artist in a seemingly effortless way. Originally "bossa" referred to free-flowing, effortless talent; later the term was adopted to describe the bossa nova music style as "the new thing." The whistling solo on Jealous Guy has to be one of the best examples in recorded music. Did you have to practise for long? BarryAverage You studied art under my great uncle Richard Hamilton . Do you have any standout memories of your time with him? xFallenAngelx

Lyrics collects the words written for music across seventeen albums, from the first iconic Roxy album of 1972 via the masterpiece of Avalon to 2014's reflective Avonmore, introduced by the author, and with an insightful essay by James Truman.We had just released the first Roxy Music album and the record company (Island Records) seemed as surprised as we were by its amazing instant success.

Bryan Ferry’s work as a singer and songwriter, both as a solo artist and with Roxy Music, is legendary.My road to Damascus experience was in 1967 when I hitchhiked from Newcastle to London to see the Stax/Volt Revue. I didn’t have any money but somebody might give you a lift for 50 miles, then 20 … It was a pilgrimage and a very powerful experience, seeing incredible musicians, one after another: Eddie Floyd, Steve Cropper. Really powerful singing, and it was very visual. Sam and Dave came on in canary yellow suits. Otis Redding strode across the stage in a bright red suit, grabbing the audience from the first note. It was like all these great records coming to life in front of you. I’d sung for a couple of years in college [in local band the Gas Board] and had sort of [laughs] retired by then to concentrate on my art studies, but that show changed my life. I thought: “This is something I wish I could do.” Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. Grace Jones’s version of Love Is the Drug is very cool. She worked with Sly and Robbie at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, where we recorded some of Avalon. It grooves much better than our version. I agree that the music greatly enhances the meaning of the lyrics. The female vocals at the end of the song are particularly beautiful and awe-inspiring. They too seem effortless, like the voices of angels. I usually write music at the piano, but lyrics can be jotted down anywhere. There’s no particular formula for songwriting. I’m not a fast writer and sometimes they take a long time to complete. Some of my favourite songs are the simpler ones, like Chance Meeting [from 1976].

Bryan Ferry's evocative lyrics of aspiration and romantic longing, introduced by the author and published on the 50th anniversary of the first Roxy Music album All the classic Roxy anthems are here - 'Virginia Plain', 'Do the Strand', 'Love is the Drug', 'The Thrill of it All' - songs in which the real and the make-believe blend in a kaleidoscopic mix, shot through with cinematic allure.

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It seemed like a good idea to start our first album with a party scene, a kind of celebration. We used sound effects tapes and added our own voices to the party to make it more real. It was just bad timing. We were finishing off [the solo album] Boys and Girls, which was way behind schedule, and we didn’t want the distraction. The songwriter Keith Forsey sent me a demo of the song and it sounded like a hit to me. Simple Minds did a great version of it. This article was amended on 2 June 2022 to remove a reference to River of Salt being the B-side of Ketty Lester’s Love Letters; it was the B-side of You Can’t Lie to a Liar. As a fellow exiled north-easterner, how much do you think the NE shaped who you were and now are? orso

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